King of Prussia, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that bridge rehabilitation will begin on a $7.8 million project to restore the Markley Street/Elm Street stone arch bridge over Stony Creek in Norristown, Montgomery County, to ensure a safe and efficient crossing for the traveling public.
Motorists are advised of the following travel restriction:
Local access will be maintained up to the construction zone. Drivers are advised to allow extra time when traveling near the work area because backups and delays will occur. All scheduled activities are weather dependent.
In addition, SEPTA's Elm Street Station parking lot for the regional rail line is located adjacent to the bridge and work zone. Once the closures begin, motorists traveling northbound on Markley Street and eastbound on Elm Street will continue to have access to the parking lot. Motorists traveling southbound on Markley Street and westbound on Elm Street will be directed to use the posted detour to gain access.
Under this project, PennDOT's contractor is rehabilitating the 123-foot-wide structure by replacing the existing stone barriers with concrete core barriers, while using the bridge's salvaged stone for the facing. Other improvements include repairing the stone masonry and arch; repointing mortar joints; installing scour protection; removing soil cover and backfilling with lightweight concrete fill; and installing a brown painted guiderail on the Markley Street approaches.
To enhance pedestrian safety and traffic flow, Markley Street will be reconstructed and widened at the bridge approaches and pavement adjustments will enhance the locally owned Elm Street. In addition, upgraded traffic signals, ADA curb ramps, pavement markings, and new signage will be installed.
J. D. Eckman, Inc. of Atglen, Chester County, is the general contractor on this project, which is financed with 100 percent state funds.
Built in 1878, and carrying approximately 24,993 vehicles a day, the Markley Street/ Elm Street bridge is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Rehabilitation of the structure will be conducted in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and the PennDOT Stone Arch Bridge Maintenance Manual.
Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.
For a complete list of construction projects impacting state-owned highways in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties, visit the District 6 Traffic Bulletin.
Information about infrastructure in District 6, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.pa.gov/D6Results. Find PennDOT's planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.
Subscribe to PennDOT District 6 news and traffic alerts at www.penndot.pa.gov/District6.
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Contact: Robyn Briggs, robbriggs@pa.gov
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